Vibratory pump



Dec. 17, 1957 c. E, FREESE A 2,816,514

VIBRATORY PUMP Filed sept. 17, 1954 w" zglNl/ENTOR. 25 50 Cyn/aes /CkEa-.se

Patented Dec. 17, 1957 $16,514 'vmRAToRY' PUMP Charles E. Freese, Parma, Ohio, assignor to Designers for Industry, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 17, 1954, Serial No. 456,793

9 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 152) This invention relates to fluid pumps and, as one of its objects, aims to provide a pump of an extremely simple construction and which utilizes an undulatory compressive deection of a flexible wall for propelling uid in a displacement passage. The invention is disclosed herein, by way of example, in the embodiment of a vibratory electric pump in which the displacement passage is defined by a flexible-wall tube.

As another of its objects, this invention provides a pump in which the undulatory compressive deflection is produced by a flexible part or reed extending along the n exible wall.

A further object is to provide a pump of the character above referred to in which the displacement passage is defined by a exible-wall tube and the undulatory compressive deflection of the tube is produced by generating a wave motion in the reed.

Still another object is to provide a pump of the kind mentioned above in which one end of the reed is attached to a vibrating means, preferably of the electromagnetic type, and the wave motion is generated in the reed by vibration of its attached end.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detailed description and in the accompanying sheet of drawings which is made a part hereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, somewhat diagrammatic in form and with parts in section, showing la pump embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view similar to Fig. l but showing the pump in operation; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are elevational views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, and showing a modied construction.

The vibratory electric pump is shown in its prelferred embodiment in Figs. l and 2 and, in general, comprises an electromagnet 11, a llexible-wall tube 12 defining a iluid displacement passage 13, and a flexible strip or reed 14 extending along and lying against the tube 12 and in which a wave motion is generated by a vibratory action of the electromagnet. The pump 10 also comprises a housing or support having a mounting portion 15 to which the electromagnet 11 is suitably attached and an abutment portion 16 along which the tube 12 extends.

The electromagnet 11 is here shown as comprising a substantially U-shaped frame 18 of magnetic material and an energizing coil 19 on such frame. The frame 18 includes an arm 20 which is seated against and attached to the mounting portion 15 and carries a stem or post 21 around which the coil 19 is disposed. The frame 1S also includes an arm 22 forming an armature member extending across the free end of the post 21 and adapted to be vibrated by changes in magnetic llux produced by the energizing coil 19.

The electromagnet 11 is shown in Figs. l and 2 as being an alternating current magnet whose coil 19 is supplied with alternating current of a suitable frequency from` an available source through the lead conductors 23 and 24. The arm 22 is a swingably connected part of the frame 18, preferably a relatively stii integrally connected resilient arm, such that this arm will be swung toward the stern 21 by energization of the coilv19 with one flux polarity and, upon deenergization of the coil or energization thereof to produce flux of an opposite polarity, the arm will spring away from the stem 21 as indicated by the position 22a shown in Fig. 2.

The tube 12 is a tube whose wall 25 is flexible so as to be readily subject to a compressive detlection, such as a tube made of soft vulcanized rubber, soft plastic, fabric or any other suitable flexible material or combinations of tlexible materials. The wall 25 of the tube is preferably a relatively thin wall such that an amplitude of deiection approximately equal to the transverse dimension of the passage 13 can be readily produced by a relatively small amount of compressive force applied to such wall.

The passage 13 of the tube 12 is the iluid displacement passage or space in which the pumping action is produced for propelling the fluid. The tube 12 has an inlet portion or end 12a which is connected with a suitable source of iluid, such as a tank or reservoir containing a supply of the fluid, and the end 12b represents the delivery end from which the pumped fluid is discharged, the direction of ilow of the pumped fluid being indicated by the arrow 26. The tube 12 can be of a round cross-sectional shape or, if desired, can have the cross-section of a relatively flat oval.

The reed 14 is a llexible strip which lies against, and extends along, the wall of the tube 12 on the side thereof opposite the abutment portion 16. This strip is a relatively thin strip made of metal, plastic or any other suitable exible material. The strip also is preferably resilient in character as well as exible, such that a wave motion can be generated in the strip and will travel lengthwise therealong, in response to a vibratory movement imparted to one end of the strip in a direction transverse to the plane of the strip.

The strip 14 has the end 14a thereof suitably connected with `the .vibratory arm 22 of the electromagnet 11 as by means of an intervening connecting block 27. The major portion of the length of the strip 14 extends along the tube 12 in a downstream direction away from the connection with the vibratory arm 22, such that the wave motion generated in the strip will move progressively therealong away from the connection 27 and in the downstream direction of the passage 13. The flexible strip 14 can, if desired, be cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the wall 25 of the tube.

The tube 12 is positioned adjacent the vibratory arm` 22 of the electromagnet by the abutment portion 16, such that the vibration of the arm 22 will be eiective on the tube through the flexible strip 14 with the wave motion generated in the strip causing a progressive compressive deflection of the wall of the tube as represented in Fig. 2. The successive compressive deflections thus produced in the tube 12 are represented by the displaced wall portions 28 and 29 which close, or partially close, the passage of the tube at axially spaced points,- such that a pump charnber 30 is dened in the intercepted portion of the tube passage.

As the wave motion traverses the exible strip 14, the compressively displaced wall portions 2S and 29 travel along the tube in the direction of the arrow 26 causing a similar axial movement of the pump chamber 30 therealong. As the pump chamber 30 moves toward and past the free end of the ilexible strip 14, another such pumping chamber is formed at or near the attached end 14a of the strip, such that during the normal operation of the pump, the rapid vibratory movement of the arm 22 causes the pump chambers to be produced in a rapid succession beneath the exible strip 14, and a substantially continuous stream of liuid will thus be propelled along the displacement passage 13.

Pigs. 3 and 4 of the drawing show a vibratory electric pump 32 which is generally similar to the pump 10 and functions in substantially the same manner. The pump 12, however, is operated by direct current supplied to the coil 19 through the lead conductors 33 and 34. The vibratory action of the arm 22 is used to actuate a makeand-break switch device 35 for automatically interrupting the flow of energizing current. In other respects, the pump 32 is similar to the pump 10 and the same reference characters have been used to designate corresponding parts.

In the pumps and 32 described above, the energizing strength of the magnet coil 19, the flexibility of the arm 22 and the iiexibility of the tube wall 25 will have suitable values, such that the above-described undulatory compressive action on the tube 12 will be obtained for propelling the fiuid along the passage 13. In the case of the alternating current magnet 11, a very satisfactory pumping action is obtainable particularly when the natural vibration frequency of the arm 22 is approximately the same as the frequency of the alternating current being supplied to the magnet coil 19.

From the accompanying drawing and the foregoing detailed description, it will now be readily understood that this invention provides a pump of a very simple construction but which will operate satisfactorily and in a practical and efficient manner. It will now also be understood that a new pumping method has been provided by this invention in which the pumping action is obtained by generating a wave motion in a flexible strip lying against the wall of a fiexible-wall tube and which wave motion causes a compressive undulatory deflection of the wall of the tube for propelling the uid along the displacement passage. Pumps embodying the principle and' construction herein disclosed can be applied to numerous practical uses and will render trouble-free service for prolonged periods.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all changes and modifications coming within the spirit of the invention and the language of the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a pump, a flexible-wall tube defining a fluid displacement passage, means for subjecting the wall of said tube to an undulatory compressive deflection comprising a flexible strip extending along and lying against said tube, and vibration producing means operably connected with said strip to vibrate the same, the undulatory compressive deflection of the wall of said tube by said strip being effective on said displacement passage to propel uid along the latter.

2. A pump comprising, an abutment means, means defining a uid displacement passage and including a flexible wall movable relative to said abutment means, a magnet having an energizing coil and a vibratory member responsive to coil. energization, and a flexible part extending along and lying against said wall and being connected with said vibratory member for an undulatory tiexing of said part and wall in response to vibration of said member.

3. A pump comprising, means defining a fluid displacement passage having a flexible wall, a flexible reed on one side of said passage and extending along said wall,

an abutment means on the other side of said passage, and a magnet having a vibratory member connected with said reed adjacent one end of the latter and effective through the reed in imparting an undulatory tiexing to said wall for propelling liuid in said passage.

4. A pump comprising, a flexible-wall tube defining a fluid displacement passage, an abutment means on one side of said tube, a magnet having an energizing coil and a vibratory member responsive to coil energization, and a flexible strip extending along and lying against the wall of said tube on the other side thereof substantially opposite said abutment means, said strip having one end thereof connected with said member, the movement of said member and the exibility of said strip being such that vibrations imparted to said one end cause a wave motion to transverse said strip and subject said tube to an undulatory compressive defiection for propelling fluid along said passage.

5. A pump comprising, an abutment means, an electromagnet including a vibratory member spaced from said abutment means, a liexible-wall tube extending between said member and abutment means and defining a fiuid passage, and a flexible strip extending along and lying against the side of said tube remote from said abutment means, said strip having one end thereof connected with said member for an undulatory flexing of said strip and an undulatory compressive deflection of the wall of said tube in response to vibration of said member.

6. A pump comprising, an abutment means, a magnet including an energizing coil and a frame having a vibratory resilient arm spaced from said abutment means and adapted to be stressed by movement away from said abutment means in response to energization of said coil, said arm having a return movement in a direction toward said abutment means, a flexible-wall tube extending between said arm and abutment means and defining a fluid passage, and a flexible strip extending along and lying against said tube with one end of the strip connected with said arm such that said strip will cause an undulatory compressive deflection of said tube in response to vibration of said arm for propelling fluid in said passage.

7. A pump as defined in claim 6 in which the magnet is an alternating current magnet and circuit means connected with said coil supplies alternating current thereto.

8. A pump as defined in claim 6 in which the magnet is an alternating current magnet and circuit means connected with said coil supplies alternating current thereto, and in which the natural vibration frequency of said arm is approximately equal to the frequency of the alternating current being supplied.

9. A pump as defined in claim 6 in which direct current supply circuit means is connected with said coil and is controlled by switch contacts responsive to the vibratory movement of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

